I fell in love with Merano over 15 years ago and have been living there permanently since 2000. It is particularly delightful in spring and autumn and also has a pleasant winter climate with many crisp sunny days.

The old medieval town and the 19th century spa buildings still give the town a special character, despite the efforts of the local building developers to spoil it. But come soon before they do!

The summer can be very hot and humid with evening thunder storms, and the clear blue skies of spring and autumn are lacking. The town fills up with badly dressed tourists and day trippers and there are noisy events such as third rate rock concerts. Outside this period Merano still has much of the atmosphere of an imperial spa with elegant promenades full of exotic plants.

It is not as trendy as it would like to think it is, thank goodness, despite the new thermal baths. It still makes an ideal holiday destination for older active people with an interest in nature, art, architecture and classical music, and going for walks at all levels of difficulty from mountaineering to gently strolling.

The name Merano, by the way, was given to the town after the first world war as part of Mussolini's policy of forced Italianisation. You will get better service from the majority of the population (of Austrian descent) if you call it Meran.

Meran, South Tyrol, Italy www.meran.eu

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